242XE Series Tower Knob coming loose

[NewBoater]

Guys I recently purchased a 2018 242XE Series boat and I tightened my knob on my tower only to find after a boat ride a week later it had worked itself loose and I heard rattling and that was the culprit. I tightened it again and I’m worried I’m going to be fighting a never ending battle with this knob. Is this a known problem? Is there a fix from Yamaha they provide under warranty? Is there a solution I can do? I believe this is the knob to tilt the Bimini correct?

Thanks!

 

[Sean R]

I had a ar190 and it had a hand knobs to hold the tower up. I would periodically check them and they would need tightening from time to time. Not a great design and one member hand them come out and the tower came crashing down. I was going to drill a thru hole and add a pin as a back up but end up selling her.

 

[NewBoater]

Dealer said I could put loctite on the knob and then screw it down and then it wouldn’t come loose or rattle loose anymore? I feel like there might be a better fix than this?

 

[Richard Bares]

I had a 2012 AR190 that had the same issue. I'm not sure what the knobs look like on the newer boats but I used a little teflon tape to help with the issue.

 

[tim h]

search up the tower issue @swatski had.. I know there was some "fixes"

 

[haknslash]

The X E-series tower does not have the same knobs as the AR tower. Not sure if the other fixes would apply.

 

[swatski]

^^^ what @haknslash said. in my case it was relatively easy because of the bolt direction, I was able to just lengthened the wheel-handle bolt by about an inch(? IIRC) and that, along with some other ungodly tricks, tightened it up enough so that I no longer think of it riding in roughest water.

To the OP - I would tighten the base-holding bolt nuts under the cap, that may take care of the situation. I bet those are probably not tight and may cause the tower base to vibrate.

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[jocolo21]

are you talking the bimini know? in the center?

 

[swatski]

are you talking the bimini know? in the center?

I'm out unfortunately, for this year. I dream I could pull a last minute shtick, but it's vanishingly unlikely. Work's killing me.

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[swatski]

Dealer said I could put loctite on the knob and then screw it down and then it wouldn’t come loose or rattle loose anymore? I feel like there might be a better fix than this?

Actually, Loctite is a good idea. I would use blue, and buy a fresh small tube - the type used in gunsmithing. I have used it very successfully on some optics that went on and off, kind of like this stuff, just needs to be fresh to work well, it is inexpensive.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I1RSNS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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[Troy JK]

+1 for Blue loctite.

 

[NewBoater]

Thanks guys! My father in law mentioned that loc tite might be too permanent if I decide to start changing angle of Bimini which I’m not sure I ever will. He suggested plumbing white tape on threads. Might try that first? Maybe less permanent and would help? Thanks for all the help

 

[haknslash]

You can use the blue 242 loctite if you want to remove a thread or fastener again. That is what it’s designed for. The red is a more aggressive adhesive.

 

[Troy JK]

Like haknslash said. Blue is removable. It also helps stop corrosion. Just added thrust vectors to my boat and they supplied the blue and recommended it be added to every screw and nut.
Red takes heat to remove.

Loctite Threadlocker Blue 242 from Loctite Adhesives

 

[jocolo21]

It happened to me on the 242 get a thin pressure washer

 

[NewBoater]

It happened to me on the 242 get a thin pressure washer

Do you have a picture for reference of what you are referring to? Thanks

 

[jocolo21]

thin lock washer

 

[Cambo]

Be careful a member had his knob drop out while trailering the Bimini flipped up hit a bridge and ripped off . If you were in the boat it and it fell out and the wind caught it while at speed this could cause damage maybe even hit someone I’m not sure how far it can pivot back.

 

[Cambo]

Maybe use safety wire if there is a way to drill in a small screw on the interior of the knob make the safety wire with a loop at the end hook it on the knob screw and attach the other end to the tower.